Mabh Savage, author, musician, trainee herbalist, bard, and practicing witch
The Creative Council
Welcome to The Creative Council, where I interview creatives about their lives and work and the ups and downs of being a creative soul.
Today’s interview is with Mabh Savage!
Mabh is the author of A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors, Pagan Portals: Celtic Witchcraft, and Practically Pagan: An Alternative Guide to Planet Friendly Living. She’s also appeared in numerous anthologies of esoteric non-fiction and poetry. Mabh is a keen musician, and her music is available on Spotify and other streaming services. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, kids, and cats, and feels very lucky to be mere minutes away from the woods in two directions. She’s a trainee herbalist, bard, and has been a practicing witch for many years, and volunteers in various Pagan groups including the Pagan Federation.
The Interview
Hi Mabh! I’m so excited you were available to do this with me! Let’s jump right in.
· When did you start creating? Do you remember what pulled you in?
This is a question that should be so easy to answer, but it’s actually quite tough! I remember writing poetry at a really young age, messing about with words, and at the same time messing about with magic and making altars out of shiny things, seeds, pinecones, and feathers I found. So, the signs were all there quite early that I was going to end up writing about witchcraft!
I started pursuing English literature and poetry at high school, took a role with the school newspaper and a few other projects, and then was consumed by music for the next decade or so. I switched from English and Drama A levels to a foundation course at the local music college but kept writing for fanzines and other amateur publications. I guess being creative has just always been a massive part of my life.
· When did you start pursuing your current craft for real? As in, when did you begin to take yourself seriously as a creator?
I knew I wanted to ‘make it’ as a creative force in some way from the time I was a teen. I felt most alive when I was either writing or performing, and I knew I had to keep chasing that feeling! I didn’t even really care about making big money from it—just enough to make a living. At one point, prior to having kids, I’d considered packing my guitar on my back and busking across Europe! I got bogged down in office jobs for fifteen years and my musical partners ended up with their own responsibilities, but I kept writing and, eventually, was able to quit the office work and now I work from home full-time.
· How long did it take you to complete your first work?
My first entire book was the quickest to complete, because I started it before my eldest child was born! A Modern Celt is reasonably short and incorporates interviews and personal experiences, and it took around two years from conception to publication. No full book has taken that short a time since!
· How long does it generally take you to complete a work?
It really varies on what else I have going on and my current personal circumstances. I have ADHD so focus is a real issue for me, but also other factors such as organisation and time management, and a ton of trauma that makes it hard to say ‘No’ when people ask for my help with other projects. Also, they’re almost always projects I love being involved with, which makes it extra hard to say ‘No’!
Between raising kids and other commitments, I would say it now takes me at least three years to complete a book from start to finish. I hope to increase that speed in the very near future!
· What do you struggle with most as a creative person?
Time and motivation. When I have the time, I lack the energy and motivation. When I’m full of energy and raring to go, there are always other things demanding my time. I would love a writer’s retreat where I could vanish for a week... Although as things are now, I would probably just read and sleep!
· Have you always had that struggle or has it changed over time?
It’s definitely become more pronounced as our family has grown, but I wouldn’t change that for the world. I will no doubt reclaim so much time once the kids are moving on and following their own paths.
· What advice would you give to creatives dealing with the same?
A supportive partner helps. My husband is very present if I need to disappear into the office or even out into the woods for research purposes! Good communication with people you live with is the advice there, I guess. Let folks know when you’re busy, indisposed, or not available for conversation. Then remember to make time for them when you can.
· What do you do to stay inspired?
I read a lot. In fact, I almost stopped reading fiction for several years as I was constantly bogged down in research, and now I’ve rediscovered it and I love it again! I also listen to music, all types of music; I love the magic that music has to get inside you and really pull at your emotions. I also get out into nature; the moors, the coast, the woods—it all has something to say.
· What’s the best creative advice you ever received?
I believe Neil Gaiman said that writers should read and read widely, and I (now) try and follow that advice as it helps keep the imagination alive. On a more personal note, I guess everyone who has ever told me that relaxation and a good night’s sleep work wonders for a creative brain. You’re all right, and I wish I did both of those things more!
You can find and connect with Mabh on her website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
Are you a creative and would you like to be interviewed next? E-mail me at marielle@mswordsmith.nl and we’ll make it happen!